Nut-lock.



E. LAMOTTEA.

NUT LOOK. APPLICATION FILED O0T.2, 1908.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND V. LAMOTTE, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

NUT-LOCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND V. LAMOTTE, citizen of the United States,residing atPortland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Ore on,have invented certain new and useful mprovements in Nut-Locks, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in nutlocks, and the object of the invention is an improved device of thischaracter which embodies peculiar means for effectually maintaining thenut in the desired adjusted position against any loosening or tighteningmovement from vibration or the like, while at the same time renderingthe nut susceptible of quick and convenient detachment when desired,without in anywise injuring any of the parts of the nut lock which wouldprevent its re-use, said nut lock being thus particularly adapted foruse on automobiles or other vehicles in securing the wheels in position,although it is to be understood that it is not limited to any such use,but may be employed in connection with jarring machinery or rail jointsor for any other purpose where an efficient device of this character isdesired.

With this and other objects in view that will more fully appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain construotionsand arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe,and then point out the novel features thereof in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, and toacquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference is to behad to the following descri tion and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view showing my im roved nut lockapplied to an axle to retain t 1e wheel thereon, the hub of the wheelbeing indicated in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on theline 22 of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 83 of Fig.1; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail views in perspective of the main nut, thekeeper and the washer respectively.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the samereference characters.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a threaded elementsuch as an Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. October 2, 1908.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Serial No. 455,796.

axle end or bolt which is formed with alongitudinal groove or keyway 2and upon which works a main nut 3 that may be of any desired or approvedconstruction or design, except that it is formed at its outer face witha reduced portion constituting an exteriorly threaded annular boss 4.This boss 4 isformed with radially extendin slots 5 that lead from theouter end thereo as shown, and that extend from the inner to the outersurfaces of the boss and are adapted in sundry positions of the main nutfor registry with the longitudinal groove 2, it being observed that inthe present instance only two of these slots are employed so as not toweaken the boss, but it is to be understood that any desired number maybe employed, according to the accuracy of adjustment which it is desiredto effect with the main nut.

Acting in conjunction withthe slots 5 and the keyway 2 is a keeper 6which is preferably in the form of an annulus that loosely encircles theboss 4 and that is formed with a radially and inwardly disposed key 7which is designed to be received in the selected slot with its extremityterminating in the keyway 2, thereby obviously securing the nut rigidlyin position upon the threaded element. This keeper 6 is secured in anoperative position by means of a cap nut 8 that is engaged with thethreads of the boss 4 and bears against the keeper to hold the sameinterposed be tween t e main and cap nuts, the keeper being of such asize as to project outwardly beyond the peripheries of both nuts for apurpose to be hereinafter disclosed. lVith this construction, it will bemanifest that as long as the key 7 is retained in position in the slotand keyway, or in other words, as long as the keeper is sustained inoperative osition by the cap nut, the main nut will belield securelyagainst any loosening or tightening movement, and it is thereforeadvisable to prevent possible loosening of the cap nut during vibrationor the like. As one means for accomplishing this purpose, I provide aspring tongue or detent 9 that is formed at one end with an eye 10through which passes a screw or other suitable fastening means 11 thatrigidly attaches the detent to the outer face of the cap nut, as shown.The other end of the spring tongue is then bent so as to bear againstone of the faces on the periphery of the cap nut, and the extremity ofthe detent is designed to be seated in a notch 12 formed in theprojecting portion of the keeper 6, as shown, thereby manifestly locking the cap nut to the keeper, and thus preventing any movement of theformer relative to the latter. I is to be of course observed that anyinimber of notches 12 may be employed, according as desired.

ln addition to its function of retaining the keeper 6 in position, itwill be seen that the cap nut incloses the operative parts of the nutlock so as to protect the same from the detrimental efi'ects of moistureor dirt or the like.

in effecting the accurate adjustment of the main nut 3, I preferablyemploy one or more washers 13 which are interposed between the same andthe work, and which may be of different thicknesses, accordii'ig asdesired, and of the usual or any approved construction or design,although in the present instance they are formed with detachablesections 14 that may be conveniently removed to permit the washer to beplaced in position Without the necessity of removing the main nut andits securing means from the threaded element, the sections being thenreturned to position to prevent the accidental disconnection of thewashers. The detachable sections 14 are formed with lugs 15 which arereceived in recesses 16 so as to hold the detachable sections againstany lateral movement and rendering it necessary to move the saidsections longitudinally the thickness of the washer in order to effectdetachment, while at the same time, when the sections are in useinsuring them against accidental removal and permit ting them to be heldsecurely in position by the main nut it is screwed up thereagainst.

In the practical use of my improved nut lock, when it is desired toremove the main nut 3 from the threaded element 1, the spring tongue ordetent 9 is bent out of engagement with the notch .12, and thisobviously releases the cap nut 8 and permits it to be disconnected fromthe threaded boss 4, whereby the keeper 6 may be readily slippedforwardly out of engagement with the slot 5 and the keyway 2 and thusunlocks the main nut and renders it susceptible of being turned upon thethreaded element to effect its disconnection therefrom. When it isdesired to return the main nut to position, it is only necessary toreverse the above operation.

From the foregoing description, in connec tion with, the accompanyingdrawing, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved nut lockwhich is most efficient in operation and may be advantageously employedupon automobiles or other vehicles, jarring machinery or rail joints orthe like, which is simple and durable in construction and consists ofcomparatively few parts that may be conveniently assembled, and whichmay be easily and cheaply manufactured so as to be placed upon themarket at a price not too great to prevent its general adoption.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a nut lock, the combination of a threaded element formed with alongitudinal groove or keyway, a nut working upon the threaded elementand formed with a boss having a slot adapted for registry with thekeyway, a keeper comprising an annulus encircling the boss and carryinga key engaged in the slot and keyway, and means for retaining the keeperin operative position.

2. In a nut lock, the combination of a threaded element formed with alongitudinal groove or keyway, a nut working upon the threaded elementand formed with a boss having a slot adapted for registry with thekeyway, a keeper comprising an annulus encircling the boss and carryingan inwardly disposed key engaged in the registering slot and the keyway,and means mounted upon the boss lor retaining the keeper in operativeposition.

3. In a nut lock, the combination of a threaded element formed with alongitudinal groove or keyway, a main nut working upon the threadedelement and formed with an exteriorly threaded annular boss having aslot adapted for registry with the keyway, said slot leading from theend of the boss and extending from the inner to the outer surface of thesame, a keeper comprising an annulus loosely encircling the boss and akey rigid with the annulus and engaged in the slot and. the keyway, anda second nut working upon the threaded boss and adapted to abut againstthe keeper to retain the same in position.

l. In a nut lock, the combination of a threaded element formed with alongitudinal groove or keyway, a main nut working upon the threadedelement and formed. with an exterior-1y threaded boss having a slotadapted for registry with the keyway, a keeper mounted upon the boss andembodying a key engaged in the slot and the keyway, a second nut workingupon the boss and adapted to sustain the keeper in operative position,and means carried by and rigid with the second nut and positivelyengaging the keeper to hold the former against any rotation relative tothe latter or to the bolt.

5. In. a nut lock, the combination of a threaded element formed with alongitudinal groove or keyway, a main nut working upon the threadedelement and 'l'ormed with an exteriorly threaded boss having a slotextending therethrough and adapted for registry with the keyway, akeeper loosely mounted upon the boss and embodying a key engaged in theslot and the keyway, a second nut working upon the threaded boss andadapted to sustain the keeper in operative position, and a spring tonguerigid with the second nut and having a detachable engagement with thekeeper, as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a nut lock, the combination of a threaded element formed with alongitudinal groove or keyway, a main nut working upon the threadedelement and formed with an exteriorly threaded annular boss having aslot extending therethrough and adapted for registry with the keyway, akee er loosely mounted upon the boss and em odying a key engaged in theslot and the keyway, a second nut Working upon the threaded boss andadapted to sustain the keeper in an operative position, the keeperprojecting be- 1.5 yond the periphery of the second nut and being formedbeyond the same with a notch, and a s ring tongue secured to the secondnut and earing against the peri hery thereof with its extremity seatedin tie notch, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDMUND V. LAMOTTE.

WVitnesses M. M. BAUM, L. FrALDnRsoN.

